Japanese (JAPN)

An introduction to the fundamentals of Japanese, emphasizing listening and speaking skills. Students learn to ask and answer simple questions in the present and past tense. Introduction of reading and writing of hiragana and approximately 30 kanji along with essentials of Japanese culture and custom.

Offered Fall semester.

A continuation of JAPN 2101. Introduction of katakana and approximately 60 new kanji. Useful grammatical patterns emphasizing the use of verbs and adjectives and verb conjugations. Practical patterns such as polite commands, permissions, prohibitions, and progressive forms are studied. Students continue to learn fundamentals of Japanese culture and lifestyle.

Prerequisite: JAPN 2101 or by LMU Placement Exam.

Offered Spring semester.

A continuation of JAPN 2102. A course designed to improve oral proficiency as well as reading and writing skills in hiragana, katakana, and kanji. More complex grammatical patterns such as giving advice and expressing one's desires. Approximately 60 new kanji are introduced, and students write short essays on selected topics. Increased knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and customs.

Prerequisite: JAPN 2102 or by LMU Placement Exam.
Offered Fall semester.

A continuation of JAPN 2103. A course designed to enable students to express their ideas effectively using more complex patterns such as advanced relative clauses, giving and receiving verbs, and volitional forms. 60 new kanji are practiced, and students write short essays on selected topics. Increased knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and customs.

Prerequisite: JAPN 2103 or by LMU Placement Exam.
Offered Spring semester.

A continuation of JAPN 2104. This course concentrates on further perfecting the student's four communicative skills. It focuses on building more advanced vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and grammatical patterns. Informal and formal language, especially different levels of keigo (honorific and humble speech), along with selected topics of Japanese culture and customs. The student learns approximately 60 new kanji and writes short essays (800 characters) on culturally intriguing topics.

Prerequisite: JAPN 2104 or by LMU Placement Exam.
Offered Fall semester.

A continuation of JAPN 3105. This course is designed to help students further develop fluency in speaking, reading, and writing at an Intermediate-High level. Discussions and compositions (800 characters) are based on selected, more socio-culturally interesting topics. The student learns passive, causative, and causative-passive sentences thoroughly along with 45 new kanji. More advanced knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture, history, art, and socioeconomics.

Prerequisite: JAPN 3105 or by LMU Placement Exam.
Offered Spring semester.

This course helps students acquire Advanced-Low advanced language skills including communicative competence. Students will apply their language skills and socio-cultural knowledge in an actual teaching setting. The basis of this exploration of engaged learning is the gradual understanding of the challenges in culturally aware applications of a language in authentic situations.

Prerequisite: JAPN 3105.
University Core fulfilled: Flag: Engaged Learning.

This course helps students acquire knowledge and explore perspectives regarding manga, anime and Japanese. Students will read three to four manga and watch anime in Japanese (manga solely in Japanese but anime can be in Japanese with subtitles). Manga and anime have become an international hit. Students will examine the history of manga and anime, mainly focusing on them after World War II. They also examine the growth of manga and anime tied with themes, historical and cultural background, and significance of that particular type of animation.


Prerequisite: JAPN 2103 or by LMU Placement Exam.
Offered Spring semester.

This course helps students acquire knowledge and perspectives regarding contemporary popular Japanese culture. Topics are carefully selected to elicit articulate expressions, critical thinking, and information literacy. This course enables students to engage in examining Japanese culture with a critical eye as to why the Japanese find certain elements of culture so interesting in today's Japan.

Prerequisite: JAPN 3105 or by LMU Placement Exam.
Offered Spring semester.